Ombudsman: ICI may only have 2 months left
The Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) seems to never run out of issues since its creation in September: aside from having limited powers, lacking funding and manpower, its days may also be numbered.
According to Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla, the fact-finding body created by President Marcos to investigate public works corruption is likely to last only up to February.
“I believe it only has about a month or two, and then, they can turn over the work to us,” Remulla said in an interview with “Unang Balita” on Friday. “That’s the direction because the ICI is not forever.”
As a fact-finding body, the ICI’s power is limited to conducting hearings, taking testimony, and receiving, gathering, reviewing, and evaluating evidence, reports, and information before recommending the filing of charges to the Office of the Ombudsman.
In its first three months, the body did not receive even a fraction of its supposed budget of P41 million for staffing.
ICI Special Adviser Rodolfo Azurin Jr. on Friday said he had been drawing from his own pocket to cover certain expenses.
“Our performance is being hampered in a way because, first of all, we can only contribute so much out of our resources. And then we can only hire people based on those expectations because we didn’t know how much budget would be allotted to us,” Azurin told reporters.
Despite the limitations, he noted, the ICI was able to come up with eight interim reports recommending the filing of criminal charges against persons being linked to anomalous projects, including past and incumbent lawmakers and public works officials.
Up to Malacañang
“As you can see, we were able to refer cases against those investigated in the early stages … despite bashers being doubtful [of the ICI],” said Azurin, a former national police chief, who is leading the site inspections of projects marked for investigation.
ICI Executive Director Brian Hosaka said the body would continue to fulfill its mandate until its work is completed or until it is “dissolved by the President (as) stated in the executive order that created the ICI.”
Azurin noted that the ICI was seen as an ad hoc body right from the start, which typically functions for only six months.
“So I think if the President, the one who organized it, thinks that we have already done our purpose … That’s okay, no problem, but that’s just me,” he said.
Mamamayang Liberal Rep. Leila de Lima, however, questioned Remulla’s pronouncements about the ICI’s lifespan.
In a statement, De Lima asked whether the President intended to disband the body immediately, especially after he was implicated by resigned Ako Bicol Rep. Elizaldy Co.
She challenged Mr. Marcos to instead certify as urgent pending measures to create the Independent Commission Against Infrastructure Corruption (ICAIC), which would give the ICI more teeth and additional resources.
The commission could continue to receive additional documents and evidence even after referring cases to the Ombudsman, particularly involving high-level officials.
“The ICI’s investigation is ongoing, and it has just begun recommending cases to the Ombudsman,” De Lima said.
P41M budget
Also on Friday, Hosaka said the ICI’s initial budget of P41.4 million has yet to be utilized since the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) issued the notice of cash allocation (Noca) only on Friday.
The Noca gives a government agency the go signal to disburse funds allotted for its operations.
“We will coordinate with the (Land Bank of the Philippines) if we could use the funds already,” he said in a Viber message.
The DBM released the funds a day after outgoing ICI Commissioner Rogelio Singson cited budgetary constraints as one of the reasons why the body could not fully perform its mandate.
Based on Hosaka’s earlier statements, the DBM approved the P41.4-million budget to cover ICI expenses till year-end, including the hiring of staff for 172 contractual positions.
Asked on Friday whether ICI Chair Andres Reyes Jr. and the rest of the officials and personnel were being paid for their work, Hosaka said they “do not receive any salaries” but only stipends.
Under Executive Order No. 94 which created the ICI, its chair and members are entitled to “per diems and allowances in accordance with existing laws and regulations.”
Other ICI personnel, including lawyers, should be receiving salaries. Hosaka could not specifically say how much since it would depend on the position. —WITH A REPORT FROM KRIXIA SUBINGSUBING
